Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1975 Sep; 35(9): 705-9.

[The influence of electric acupuncture on the closing mechanism of the female urethra in cases of stressincontinence (author's transl)]

Kubista E, Altmann P, Kucera H, Rudelstorfer B.

The influence of electric acupuncture on the sphincter of the femal urethra was checked on 15 patients with stressincontinence without gross anatomic variation recognized by means of simultaneous cystourethrometry. After 30 minutes of electric stimulation through acupuncture-needles, which were placed into the skin of the lower legs and lower abdomen, a significant increase of the so-called "closing pressure" was to be found. 11 patients even showed a positive pressure. In a control collective of 15 other patients, who however did not undergo acupuncture there was only one case of slight increase of closing pressure. In addition 15 patients were given a placebo suppository, in order to eliminate as far as possible any psychical factor. In none of these cases a significant change of the closing pressure could be found. Even though the actual working manner of electric acupuncture is not understood, these experiments seem to confirm the assumption of the electric acupuncture as having a positive influence on the closing mechanism of the femal urethra.